Weird Science (1985): 15 Weird Facts You Didn't Know!

Here are 15 facts about Weird Science—a film that was improvised, rushed, awkward, and somehow still became one of the most iconic teen comedies of the 1980s. Plus, a bonus detail at the end involving a real, unscripted kiss caught on film.

1. John Hughes Wrote the Script in 36 Hours

While juggling The Breakfast Club and pre-production on Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Hughes wrote the entire script for Weird Science in under two days. There was no development period. No studio notes. Just Hughes working alone over a weekend, pouring out ideas on instinct. The result was a film that felt messy, fast, and original—because it was.

2. Kelly LeBrock Took the Role Without Reading the Script

LeBrock agreed to play Lisa after hearing the premise—no script, no breakdown, no rewrites. She later admitted she didn't fully understand the movie until filming had already started. But she liked Hughes, liked the title, and wanted to try something ridiculous. The choice gave her one of the most iconic roles of the decade.

3. Anthony Michael Hall Turned Down a National Lampoon Sequel to Do This

Hall was offered a lead in European Vacation, but turned it down to play Gary Wallace. There was no franchise behind Weird Science, no guaranteed hit—but Hall wanted to work with Hughes on something original. It became his strangest, most quotable role.

4. The Shower Scene Was Originally Much More Explicit

The script called for Lisa to undress in front of the boys during the shower scene. The studio pushed for it. LeBrock refused. She argued the character wasn't supposed to be an object—she was meant to take control of every room she walked into. The scene was rewritten to be awkward instead of sexual, and that shift changed the tone of the entire movie.

5. Robert Downey Jr. Almost Got Fired

Downey and co-star Robert Rusler caused constant chaos on set—pranks, ruined props, wrecked hotel rooms. The jokes stopped being funny when they started costing time. John Hughes reportedly came close to firing both of them. Downey pulled it together just enough to stay in the movie, but you can still catch him smirking through most of his scenes.

6. The Bra Scene Took Dozens of Takes Because the Actors Kept Laughing

Wearing bras on their heads wasn't funny on paper, but on set it was impossible to film. Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith couldn't stop laughing. The crew had to stop multiple times just to get one usable take. The embarrassment and awkwardness turned out to be the perfect tone for the scene—and it became one of the film's most quoted images.

7. Bill Paxton Had a Panic Attack Inside the Blob Suit

Playing Chet was gross enough. But during his transformation scene, Paxton was sealed inside a latex blob costume rigged with hoses and prosthetics. He later said it felt like being buried alive. The crew had to pause filming just to help him breathe. He pushed through—and delivered one of the strangest exits in '80s comedy.

8. One Entire Scene Was Cut for Being Too Inappropriate

Originally, Lisa hypnotized and kissed one of the boys' teachers in a scene that was meant to be surreal and funny. It didn't land. Test audiences were uncomfortable, and even Hughes admitted it crossed the line. The scene was cut completely and hasn't resurfaced.

9. The House Explosion Was Real

No CGI. No models. The massive explosion at the party was done with real charges and full-scale pyrotechnics. The blast cracked a nearby garage and led to multiple noise complaints. There was no permit for that kind of impact—but that didn't stop the production.

10. The Blues Club Scene Was Shot in a Real South Side Chicago Bar

When Gary and Wyatt enter the blues bar, their discomfort is real. The bar was an actual club on the South Side. The patrons weren't extras—they were locals. The crew expected a cold reaction, but the crowd played along, cheered, and gave the scene the exact energy it needed.

11. The Title Song Was Written Before the Film Was Finished

Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo wrote "Weird Science" based only on the film's name and a short description. They didn't see footage or read the script. The song ended up being one of the most recognizable theme tracks of the decade—and helped define the movie's identity before it even had a final cut.

12. The Biker Gang Was a Nod to Mad Max 2

Vernon Wells, who played the mohawked gang leader in The Road Warrior, appears in Weird Science wearing almost the same outfit. Hughes cast him intentionally, essentially creating an uncredited crossover between post-apocalyptic action and teen comedy.

13. Kelly LeBrock Left Hollywood After the Film

After Weird Science, LeBrock was positioned to become one of the decade's biggest stars. She turned down follow-up roles, left Los Angeles, and stepped away from the industry entirely. Some pointed to burnout. Others blamed her turbulent marriage to Steven Seagal. But she never gave a detailed explanation. She simply walked away.

14. It Was the Last Collaboration Between John Hughes and Anthony Michael Hall

After three major films together, Hall and Hughes stopped working together following Weird Science. There were rumors of creative disagreements, possibly over Ferris Bueller's Day Off, where Hall was not considered for a role. They never worked together again.

15. Ilan Mitchell-Smith Left Acting Completely

After playing Wyatt, Mitchell-Smith didn't chase more roles. Instead, he left the industry, earned a PhD in medieval literature, and became a professor. He occasionally attends conventions, but considers his acting career a short chapter. Today, he teaches college courses in history and medieval studies.

Bonus: The Final Kiss Was Unscripted

In the last scene, Lisa kisses Wyatt. What most people don't know is that the kiss wasn't in the script. It surprised everyone—including Ilan Mitchell-Smith, who was 14 at the time. He later said the moment felt overwhelming, awkward, and oddly perfect. That one unscripted take ended up becoming the film's final shot—and one of its most human.